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AFG meets a ‘slippery customer’
Dr. Iain Corness
The dynamic Automotive Focus Group (AFG) was treated to a
most interesting presentation on Tribology at their monthly meeting, which
was held at the Bangkok Hospital Pattaya’s D1 lecture theater.
The lecture was given by AFG member Sid Stone from the
InS Thai group, a man with 40 years experience in the industry, and began
with “God invented the solids, but it’s the Devil who created their
surfaces.” (Wolfgang Pauli 1900-1958.)
Tribology turned out to be the study of lubrication,
looking in particular at how to allow solids to slip past each other, such
as the piston in a cylinder bore, for example.
Lubrication, as a requirement for human development dates
back to 4,000 years ago in Babylon, but the first recorded evidence of
lubrication was that on the hinge of a kiln door in 2,500 BC. The pyramids,
700 years later, also required lubrication to haul the blocks into position.
Olive oil was needed as well as blood, sweat and tears. The Romans mixed
olive oil with animal fats as a lubricant in 23 AD, but it was Leonardo da
Vinci who designed bearings and the Tribometer to quantify the coefficient
of friction in 1452.
The first oil well predated the motor car and began
delivering oil in 1853 in Poland, which later became a strategic target
during WW2.
President of the AFG, James Beeson (left) introduces
guest speaker Sid Stone from INS.
The advances in lubrication were explained, with oil
changes in a Model T Ford required every 150 miles. Things are somewhat
different today, with synthetic oils extending the oil change period
significantly.
Sid Stone, however, did say that it was still good sound
engineering practice to change the oil frequently. He also scotched the
popular thought that the oil filter system in the modern car would remove
solids such as molybdenum disulphide. It does not, and with the very latest
nano-technology with particle size less than one tenth of a micron, these
pass straight through any filtration system.
Viscosity grades were explained and Sid Stone also
pointed out that the wheel is slowly going full circle, with “green”
technology and the botanical approach to extraction of lubricants, taking
industry back to the Babylonian days. A lively Q&A session ensued.
President of the AFG, James Beeson, led the acclamation,
and oversaw the drawing of the raffle prizes, with Larry Jackson and Brendan
Richards the lucky recipients.
The Carlsberg beer and a great range of snacks from the
Queen Victoria Inn were sponsored by Shaun Burke (Cromwell) and Kevin Fisher
(CEA), and were consumed with much enjoyment and in a good networking
environment.
Secretary Maurice Bromley advised the members that next month’s meeting
would deal with the problems of finding suitably trained staff and the
proposed college of technical training for the auto industry in particular.
Maurice can be contacted at Maurice.Bromley @go-dove.com.
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MICE thrives in Pattaya
Sirima Eamtako,
TTG Asia
Pattaya’s MICE industry is doing well, buoyed by ongoing
infrastructure and tourism development, as well as business growth at industrial
parks in Rayong and Chonburi.
Pullman Pattaya Aisawan general manager, Clinton Lovell,
explained that Pattaya’s proximity to Suvarnabhumi Airport has helped entice
more MICE groups. So have efforts in recent years to position the city as a
family- and MICE-friendly destination through the building of
international-standard hotels and medical, tourism and shopping facilities.
According to Pattaya hoteliers, business growth at five
industrial parks in Rayong and Chonburi were a boon for MICE business,
especially as car manufacturers were keen to hold car launches and dealer
conferences at hotels in the city.
Lovell said that Pullman Pattaya Aisawan hosted more than 150
events last year, and was looking to improve on that result this year.
Amari Orchid Pattaya general manager, David Cumming, said
MICE business to Pattaya “started returning from July at a fast pace, and has
since been growing.”
Between January and May this year, the Amari Orchid Pattaya
handled four to five residential MICE groups per month, each ranging from 20 to
200 rooms. It has secured bookings for two residential meetings from Singapore
in July and August, and two conferences from Israel in September.
Furama Jomtien Beach, Pattaya, has been handling about one to
two residential meetings a month since January, including a one-week, 100-pax
training held earlier this year.
The hotel is currently in discussions for a two-night,
100-room Japanese car manufacturer meeting in July, and a two-night regional
conference for three 300-pax groups in August.
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2 Royal Cliff hotels win
TripAdvisor Certificate of Excellence
The Royal Wing Suites & Spa and the Royal Cliff Grand
Hotel, two of the 4 hotels of the Royal Cliff Hotels Group recently won the
“2011 Certificate of Excellence” award from TripAdvisor.
The Royal Cliff Hotels Group as seen from the air.
This prestigious certificate is
awarded to member properties of TripAdvisor who consistently receive
excellence ratings from travelers around the world. To qualify, the property
is expected to maintain an average rating of 4 or higher out of the possible
5, as reviewed by travelers on TripAdvisor. Additional criteria include the
volume of reviews and how recent these reviews are submitted by TripAdvisor
travelers.
TripAdvisor is the world’s largest travel community site,
enabling travelers to plan their holiday by offering advice from travelers
who have experienced the properties and services first-hand. On an average,
TripAdvisor accommodates more than 50 million travel reviews and opinions;
addressing the public through more than 15 popular travel portals and
interactive travel forums. TripAdvisor operates in 27 countries around the
world.
The Royal Cliff Hotels Group is honored to have received
this recognition for the Royal Wing Suites & Spa and the Royal Cliff Grand
Hotel; and is proud that the hotel group’s gracious warm Thai hospitality
has satisfied its valued guests.
In addition, the Royal Cliff Hotels Group in Pattaya has been nominated
in the 18th Annual World Travel Awards in the following two categories:
Thailand’s Leading Beach Resort and Thailand’s Leading Resort. Voting polls
are now open; please vote for the Royal Cliff Hotels Group by visiting www.
worldtravelawards.com/vote
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